02 // Birth & Early Upbringing

Matthew’s story began in Springfield, Missouri, where he was born to Sharon Verfurth and Eddie Walkingstick. His life was shaped early on by his family and faith. He was raised most of his childhood Roman Catholic. Matthew was raised with a strong faith in Jesus and his love for all.

Matthew learned the pain of profound loss at a very young age when his mother, Sharon, passed away from cancer when he was only seven. Tragedy struck again just a year later with the passing of his beloved uncle, compounding his grief during his most formative years. In the wake of these devastating losses, he was raised by a loving village of grandparents and extended family who surrounded him with security and warmth.

Through their guidance, Matthew grew up deeply rooted in faith, learning to live by God's commandments and to always treat others with the same love, care, and respect he wished to receive. Instead of letting early heartache harden his heart, these trials shaped him into a man of remarkable empathy and resilience.

03 // Education & Professional Journey

A proud Springfield local, Matthew graduated from Kickapoo High School in 2006. Navigating a learning disability during his school years, he was a part of the special education department, where he developed a deep sense of perseverance. During his high school years, he also stepped into the workforce for the first time, starting his very first job at Patriot Auto Wash.

Demonstrating his determination to grow personally, he attended the BASE program at Missouri State University (MSU) for his last two years of high school. Following this foundational experience, Matthew went on to expand his skill set by learning culinary arts at Job Corps, graduating in 2007.

After graduating, Matthew built his career path by navigating a diverse workforce environment, holding a wide range of positions across label making, restaurant work, retail, and telemarketing. Navigating these roles firsthand gave him a genuine understanding of consumer needs and team dynamics. That exact blend of grit, experience, and leadership eventually brought his journey full circle, returning to manage the very same car wash where he started out as a teenager.

04 // Falling Away & Redemption

Over the years, however, the busy rhythms and distractions of life caused Matthew to drift away from his faith. Church attendance stopped, and God was no longer the focal point of his daily life. In this season of spiritual distance, he fell into sin and found himself navigating a life heavy with loss and heartache—a time where he felt he was not living up to the values of his upbringing.

During these years, Matthew reconnected with his high school sweetheart, whom he married in 2012, eventually welcoming their two children, Dayita and Edward. But deep personal tragedy loomed on the horizon. In 2016, Matthew faced the profound loss of his father, followed closely by the passing of his father-in-law, and then his wifes grandmother.

The compounding weight of grief and hardship took a severe toll, bringing his marriage to the absolute brink of divorce. Yet, in the midst of their darkest hour, God reached down. Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, a friend extended an invitation to James River Church. Though they were no longer churchgoers, Matthew and his wife decided to give it a try. That step inside the doors transformed everything.

Reconnecting powerfully with his faith, Matthew found an unshakeable anchor in Christ’s love and forgiveness. Together, Matthew and his wife walked down to the altar, surrendered their lives to Jesus, and were baptized side-by-side. From that moment on, they committed to raising their children to love and follow Jesus. Embracing his restored purpose, Matthew joined the church ministry team to serve on a broadcasting camera. Out of their deepest season of trial, God completely restored their marriage, healed their home, and set their family on a foundation of generational faith.

05 // Kingdom Banner Co. & Core Values

Every step of Matthew's life—from the painful sting of early loss to the grit required to overcome educational and professional obstacles—was intentionally woven together by God to prepare him for a higher calling. The personal brokenness he experienced while pulled away from his faith, contrasted against the overwhelming grace he felt during his family's restoration, sparked a deep clarity of purpose. Out of this profound testimony of redemption, Matthew launched Kingdom Banner Co. What began as a heartfelt vision to create high-quality, impactful Christian apparel has grown into a thriving national e-commerce storefront.

Kingdom Banner Co. isn't designed to be just another fashion label or business venture; it is an active extension of Matthew’s ministry, architected from the ground up to **place Christ front and center** in the marketplace. The raw hardships of his path directly informed the brand's unshakeable core pillars: **faith, family, and hard work**. Navigating severe loss taught him the eternal value of time and legacy, while his redemption at the altar gave him an unquenchable passion to build something that boldly glorifies the King.

For Matthew, placing Christ first means letting the brand serve a much greater, servant-hearted mission. True success isn’t measured by business analytics or sales performance, but by what is actively poured back into the Kingdom. Because of this intentional conviction, Kingdom Banner Co. serves a greater purpose, allowing Matthew to **donate yearly to meaningful missions and local charities**. It stands as a physical billboard of his family's journey—built to encourage believers across the nation to wear their faith with confidence, honor God above all else, and uplift communities in need.